Device for moving pianos



(No Model.)

B. L. THOMPSON.

DEVICE FOR MOVING PIANOS. No. 265,465. Patented Oct. 3. 1882;

WITNESSES: I m INVBNTOR:

Z??? BY'MJE ATTORNEYS.

am STATES FEFI OE.

PATENT DEVICE FOR MOVING PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 265,465, dated October 3, 1882.

Application filed June 21, 1882.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT L. THOMPSON, of Boulder,in the county of Boulder and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved Device for Moving Pianos, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

My invention consists of a frame or cradle to be applied to a piano-forte, so that it can be moved with great facility and without danger of marringor injuring the same, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of a square piano-forte in upright position, having my new and improved moving cradle or frame applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the body of the piano supported in an edgewise positionin the cradle, ready to be moved. Fig. i) is a perspective view, showing the device attached to an upright. piano-forte. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one of the stirrups in which the piano rests and through which the carrying-bars pass. Fig. 5is a plan view of a wedge to be placed above or below the carrying-bars, in the loopsin the stirrups through which they pass for raising or lowering the bars, according to the height of the piano; and Bi 6 is a similar view of a cushioned and stepped block to be placed between the bars and the body of the piano to adapt the device to pianos of different sizes.

AA represent twoiron stirrup-pieces of suitable size and strength, provided with the casters a a at their lower corner, and carrying the cushioned blocksB B, which support the pianoforte upon its edge in the stirrups. The upright pieces of the stirrups are bent at their upper ends so as to form the loops 1) I), through which the carrying-bars D D pass for moving or carrying the piano. These bars have a series of holes, cc, made through them, through which the tie-rods E E pass. These rods are headed or looped at one end, and are provided with the thumb nuts f f at the other for clamping the carrying-bars together firmly upon the piano.

F is a cushioned board, to be placed between No model.)

the polished coveror lrontof the piano and one of the carrying-bars to protect the polished surface from being scratched or marred by the carrying-bar when the nutsfare turned and when the piano is lifted or moved by the bars.

Grepresentsa wedge of wood, of which there will be four in number, connected with the device for adj ustiug the stirrup and carrying-bars to pianos of different sizes. These wedges are of a size to fit in the loops b b of the stirrup, and for pianos smaller than the medium size they will be placed in theloop above the carrying-bars; but in case of ordinary and large sized pianos they will be placed (if used at all) in the loops below the said bars.

There will be two. or more of the stepped wooden blocks H con nected with the device for filling up the cradle, so that the same will be applicable to piano-bodies of various depths.

The straight surfaces of these blocks are cush-.

ioned, as shown at h,and the blocks are adapted to be set in vertical position upon'one or other of the steps, according to the size of the piano, upon the carrying-bars, with the straight cushioned surface against the piano. in this manner, by means of the wedges G and stepped blocks H, the device may be adjusted to suit pianos of all sizes. When the stepped blocks H are used the board F will not be used.

In use, if the piano to be moved is a plain square piano, the carrying device is applied to the body of the piano while the same is in upright position, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The piano is then tipped upon itsedge, in which position it rests in the stirrups A A,as shown in Fig. 2. The legs of the piano may now be removed and the piano carried to any place desired with comparative ease and safety by the carrying-bars. In case the piano to be moved is an upright piano, the carrying device is applied to the bottom of the piano, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, and moved in an upright position. c

I am aware thata reotangularframe mounted on rollers and provided with side bars which are secured either in slots of the frame by wedges or to the sides of the said frame by pivoted catches is old, and I therefore lay no claim to such invention, my invention being confined to the precise construction and arrangement of parts, whereby I obtain a cheap and durable truck, and one in which the bars or handles are made to serve the double purpose of handles and means for securing the piano in the truck-frame.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the stirrups A,provided with loops 1) at their upper ends, of the bars D, provided with the holes 0, the tie-rods E, and nuts f, whereby the bars are made to serve the doublepurpose of handles and means of securing the piano in the stirrups, substantially as herein shown and described.

ROBERT LAWRENCE THOMPSON. Witnesses:

GEORGE S. GIBSON, FRANK A. LEONARD. 

